The Oklahoma Sooners faced off against the Auburn Tigers last night in the Sugar Bowl, besting the eastern Alabama team 35-19. Although the game was a showcase of athletic ability, it also showcased something far uglier: the overlooking of violence against women when an athlete’s career hangs in the balance.

Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon, 20, began his career at Oklahoma in 2014, on scholarship for the school after picking from over 40 college offers as the top running back in the country according to Rivals.com. In July of that year, Mixon punched the woman in the head at a Norman cafe- provoked by a push and slap by the woman- causing her face to slam into a table, fracturing several bones. Following the altercation, Mixon entered an Alford plea to a misdemeanor assault charge, which involved a one-year deferred sentence, 100 hours of community service and counseling according to newsok.com. He was then put on redshirt by the Oklahoma team- meaning he did not play in a game for the Sooners until the following year, saving him another year of eligibility- which some refer to as a punishment. A video of the incident released by order of the Oklahoma Supreme Court this past week caused the incident to resurface- causing outcry of why the running back was not punished more severely.

That conflict came to a head last night, while ESPN announcer Brent Musberger was calling the Sugar Bowl. During the first quarter of the game, Musberger referenced Mixon’s past, saying that the video was troubling to see but then went on to praise Mixon.

“He is just one of the best, and let’s hope, given a chance by (Oklahoma head coach) Bob Stoops and Oklahoma, let’s hope this young man makes the most of his chance and goes on to have a career in the National Football League,” Musberger said.

Musberger, although briefly mentioning Mixon’s assault, completely glossed over the details of the incident and that the woman involved had multiple bones in her face broken. Instead, he mounted praise on the running back and wished him the best of luck in the NFL. Although, yes, calling a football game is about sports and shouldn’t be about outside issues, Musberger’s words seemed like an attempt to justify that since Mixon is ‘just one of the best’ we should hope him a glorious career in the NFL.

Later in the game, Musberger – notably angry at the backlash his earlier commentary was receiving on social media- again brought up the issue in an attempt to backtrack.

“Some people were upset when I wished this young man well at the next level,” Musburger said. “Let me make something perfectly clear: What he did with that young lady was brutal, uncalled for, he’s apologized, he was tearful. He got a second chance. He got a second chance from Bob Stoops. I happen to pull for people with second chances, okay? Let me make it absolutely clear that I hope he has a wonderful career and he teaches people with that brutal, violent video, okay?”

This incident of defending players because of their skill in the face of a crime is not new. Swimmer Brock Turner and Former Dallas Cowboy Defensive End Greg Hardy are just a few names that in the past few years have been defended because of their athletic skill. Getting away with an assault of this gravity with just a slap on the wrist just goes to emphasize that athletes have a longer leash when it comes to the law- one, that if not notably shortened in the next few years, will continue to teach young athletes that it is OK to break the law- so long as your athleticism can cover you.